Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 250.
Mr. Shepard to Mr. Fish.

United States Legation,
Japan, February 17, 1872. (Received April 1.)

No. 19.]

Sir: His Majesty the Tenno, on Japanese new year, (February 10,) for the first time received the foreign representatives in a body. Congratulations were exchanged with his ministers, and through the prime minister the Emperor asked particularly after the health of the President.

Herewith I hand you copy of His Majesty’s speech.

I am, &c.,

CHARLES O. SHEPARD,
Chargé d’ Affaires ad int.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

This is the first occasion on which I have given audience to you in celebration of our new year’s festival.

High and low enjoy tranquillity, and all felicitate themselves on the happy occasion of the new year. Your countries have already celebrated the new year, and I am infinitely rejoiced to know that your sovereigns and the President are prosperous, and that their officials and people enjoy peace. I hope that we may long continue to enjoy the happiness of ever-increasing friendship and harmonious relations.